This is your place to check for updates and comment along with the Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes game on February 18, 2023.
The Washington Capitals are playing an absolutely humongous game against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. Yes, it’s on national television. Yes, it’s the franchise’s fourth outdoor game. And yes, it’s in front of tens of thousands of its own fans.
But the Capitals’ perilous spot in the standings — a point out of the final wild-card spot — makes this outdoor outing a virtual must-win game. If you don’t believe me, I’ll let Capitals center Dylan Strome explain why. The Hurricanes have beaten the Capitals both times they’ve played this season and lead the Metropolitan Division.
The Capitals will once again be without Alex Ovechkin, who is in Russia to be with his family after the death of his father, Mikhail.
Tonight’s game is on ABC at 8 pm. No Joe B or Locker. Here’s all the ways to watch the game.
Links
- Ovi texted the Capitals before the Stadium Series game
- The Caps arrived to the game in varsity jackets
- Notes from the Caps’ practice on Friday
- Eric Fehr’s in the house as a guest of the Capitals
- Tom Wilson mic’d up
- The Capitals’ family skate
- Mikhail Ovechkin’s funeral was held earlier Saturday
- Tom Wilson wants to be the agent for Nicke Jr
- Hendrix Lapierre a healthy scratch in Hershey
- A closer look at the Caps’ Stadium Series gear
Lines
Lineys!#CapsCanes | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/tymV1yMnvS
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 19, 2023
1st Period
What a view!
— K Mortier (@kkmortier) February 19, 2023
Nic Dowd tossing a football around with fans.
Nic Dowd throws football to fans in crowd before Stadium Series game
Two members of NC State’s championship basketball team announced the Carolina Hurricanes out of the locker room. The NC State band played both teams onto the ice.
The national anthem was stunning. They skated out a flag that was the size of the entire rink. The flyover included sparks coming out from the back of the jets.
Ripken the Bat Dog did the ceremonial puck drop between Nicklas Backstrom and Jordan Staal. And yes, he high-fived them both.
Canes’ championship players, Erik Cole, Mike Commodore, and Chad LaRose, did the pregame Hurricane siren.
Johansson-Backstrom-Sheary and Orlov-Jensen get the start. Darcy Kuemper will oppose Frederik Andersen in net. The Hurricanes are -195 favorites.
🚨 1-0 Hurricanes. Jesperi Kotkaniemi gives Carolina the lead 2:11 into the game after redirecting a puck past Darcy Kuemper. Peter Laviolette Guy, Matt Irwin, couldn’t tie him up.
What a start!! pic.twitter.com/anlFzuUlcj
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) February 19, 2023
The Capitals get the game’s first power play after Kotkaniemi takes a hooking penalty on Dmitry Orlov. Capitals doing nothing on the power play.
The average ticket price for the game was $319 per ABC.
Brady Skjei to the box for tripping Tom Wilson. The Capitals had one shot on the PP. The Hurricanes have killed 40 of the last 45 PPs they’ve faced.
Martin Necas nearly scored through his legs on a semi-breakaway. To prevent him from scoring, Dmitry Orlov tripped him. Canes to the PP.
The Hurricanes outshot the Capitals 10-7 and out-attempted them at 5v5, 15-14. The Hurricanes are nearly doubling up the Capitals in expected goals 1.12 to 0.61.
2nd Period
Nicklas Backstrom takes a tripping penalty early in the period giving the Canes’ their second power play. Caps kill off the power play. Hurricanes had several good chances.
🚨 2-0 Hurricanes. Paul Stastny scores in front of the net after a feeding frenzy on Darcy Kuemper. Nick Jensen and Dmitry Orlov couldn’t clear the zone.
Evgeny Kuznetsov takes a high-sticking penalty after delivering a hit. Canes to their third PP.
🚨 3-0 Hurricanes. Martin Necas made it 3-0 Hurricanes with a virtually unstoppable one-timer from the left circle on the PP.
🚨 4-0 Hurricanes. Teuvo Tervainen scores. Frederik Andersen – the goaltender – gets an assist on the play.
Timeout Washington. This is embarrassing play from the Capitals.
Anthony Mantha just fought Jordan Martinook who didn’t even have his gloves off. Mantha also slew-foot Martinook and cross-checked him in the head. Mantha only got an extra penalty for cross-checking. Another power play for Carolina.
The Capitals are a mess and that was a terrible period. The Hurricanes lead in shots on goal 22-15. The Canes have a 30-24 advantage in 5v5 shot attempts. The Hurricanes lead in expected goals a ridiculous 3.21 to 0.80.
stunned by how bad the Caps are
— RMNB (@rmnb) February 19, 2023
3rd Period
🚨 4-1 Hurricanes. Tom Wilson, on pure effort alone, scores to end Carolina’s shutout. The goal came 10:32 into the period.
This game is over. Caps have now lost four in a row.
The Capitals and Hurricanes shake hands at center ice.
Comment below. Refresh this article throughout the night as we’ll be updating it live.
